Humanity

03/31/2018

It was September 11. 1977. A new company named Atari came out with the first home based video game console called the Atari VCS (Video Computer System). This was later renamed the Atari 2600. Prior to this, video games were only available in arcades or as novelty items in bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. But now that a household could easily turn their television into a computer monitor, children and adults left behind old family pastimes like Frisbee, Marco Polo, tag football, cards, Monopoly and checkers, which promoted exercise, personal engagement with others, in favor of being mesmerized by moving dots on a screen.

I remember coming to family gatherings such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, which were attended by not only our nuclear family, but older folks, grandmothers, aunts and uncles that by virtue of geography or gerontology, were seen infrequently. When they arrived, their primary interest was to see and interact with the youngest members of the family. To see how they'd grown, discuss their evolving interests and hopefully, pass along some hard won wisdom as a legacy to future generations. But once that console was installed, those conversations ceased to exist. The children would barely look up at their elders, begrudgingly tolerating a kiss on the cheek before returning their laser focus to that all important game.

Parents would attempt to admonish their children "Say hello to Aunt Mabel" or "Put that thing down and visit with your Grandma!" But to no avail. The addiction was all consuming and we didn't even recognize this as a watershed moment and what it portended for the future of humanity.

Those games became more sophisticated and migrated from the television screen to a new device called a computer. Then came cell phones, which were initially intended only to free us from the telephone appliance on the wall or desk. But eventually they began to incorporate other features, such as calculators, calendars, alarms and of course, games, for those long waits a the bus stop or to pass time on the commode.

The computer and the cell phone continued to evolve separately, to become ever more important components of modern life. Then, on January 2, 2007, at the MacWorld Convention, Steve Jobs of Apple announced the introduction of the iPhone. With this device, one could have all or most of the benefits of a computer and a phone in one hand-held miracle. The positive and negative impact that this pivotal development has had on humanity is still being digested and calculated. But it must be emphasized that hand held digital devices have become the most ubiquitous and under-appreciated addiction plaguing society today. As a result, our societies have become less social, less physically active, more depressed, more suicidal and less literate than at any time since the industrial revolution.

Granted, access to information and the ability to connect with persons across the globe has transformed education, business and social intercourse. But information is not knowledge and connection is not necessarily communication; texting is not writing and receiving sound bytes is not reading.

The Overall Impact on Children is Negative

In the era before cell phones, groups of kids heading to and from school, in malls, theme parks and neighborhood events could be seen in groups, laughing, goofing off and actually talking to each other. Now, after hand held devices have become as common as backpacks, kids walk alone, or in pairs. But rather than talking to each other, they saunter with their heads down, psychically linked with whatever is appearing on the screen of their phone. More than likely, its Facebook, Snapchat or some other social media application.

Honestly, these applications should be renamed "Anti-Social Media". Not only because of their seductive and divisive influence on developing minds, but because they are so often used to disrespect, shame, bully and isolate youngsters. Certainly, bullying and spreading rumors between classmates is nothing new. Childhood is full of painful and difficult lessons regarding the cruelty of people toward each other. But when a lie, a shameful statement or a hurtful impression about an individual is sent with surgical precision to all of his or her friends, with the click of a button, that is a weapon that delivers a sometimes deadly blow to the self esteem and fragile confidence of a vulnerable child.

Suicides Far Too Common in Children. Is Social Media to Blame?

Suicides are always a tragedy, but especially when they occur in children. From the years 1999-2015, one child under 13 died from suicide every 5 days on average or about 13 per 100,000 children. The stats are also not good for adolescents from 13-17 years of age, with 7 per 100,000 dying during that same study period.

Now certainly not all of these tragic events can be traced to computers, phones and social media, but the spike does conspicuously correlate with the rise in popularity of these devices and their associated apps. Take note that while still unacceptable, the rates for more mature children is half of that for those under 13. This would suggest an intellectual development in this age group, providing more tools with which to diffuse the impact of bullying or shaming on social media. It may also suggest a reduction in these incidents, given more involvement in extracurricular activities, such as sports, scouting and academic endeavors.

The Impact on Society is Mixed

One of the intuitive assumptions about the proliferation of digital technology is that it would "bring the world together". Nonetheless, racial and ethnic tensions still rage in many developed and underdeveloped societies and the already topsy turvy world of politics and industry has become even more so with the revelation that rogue governments and hackers are are using digital conduits and social media to hack into our increasingly cyber based information infrastructures and voting systems.

These nefarious entities are even creating fake accounts on Twitter and Facebook to sew divisions in the electorate, potentially influencing the political leanings of the undecided and hardening the resolve of those on the fringes of the political spectrum.

Furthermore, Airlines, Entertainment companies, Utilities, and entire municipal governments have had their operations grind to a halt when hackers successfully gained access to their files and operating systems. Sometimes these breaches were used to extort money from the entities involved, who in most cases, were forced to pay a ransom to regain their files. Other such events may be even more troubling, suggesting the involvement of disruptive governments, targeting states or companies that do not align with their political objectives.

I suppose this could be the digital equivalent of sending anthrax (a deadly biological poison), in a letter addressed to a government official or industry leader. There is certainly no perfect system or one in which all the security gaps can be patched or controlled. But there is far more we can do as a society to influence the impact of digital technology on all of our citizens and critical operations.

We Need a General Intervention

The term "intervention" was co-opted during the drug-addled 70's to describe when friends and family would gather secretly to gang up on and hopefully force a loved one to confront and deal with his or her addiction to a substance or relationship. And as we careen headlong into an increasingly automated and digitized future, we must begin to deal with the the known and still unknown effects of inserting technology into virtually every aspect of our daily lives.

Science has studied the disease of addiction in the human mind for the purpose of helping those afflicted learn to manage their cravings and impulses. But for a very different reason, technology developers have also probed deep into the collective psyche of Humanity to understand how to use addiction as a tool to make their devices and applications seem indispensable.

If you were to take cigarettes away from a smoker for even a few hours, a series of predictable responses would set in. Some psychological and some physical. These response by an addict to the denial of an addictive substance, relationship or activity is called "withdrawal". The same dependency can be seen in those who've bonded to their device or to the habit of checking their Facebook account a dozen times an hour for an example. When an idea or a product can be so seductive, so alluring that its users cannot get enough, it can then be used to "mainline" all kinds of advertising and propaganda right past our filters, directly into our subconscious, where it has the potential to alter the way we think, speak and act.

This is what is alleged to have happened during our most recent Presidential election. Offshore hackers, probably supported by State sponsors began using the "virtual reality" of apps like Facebook and Twitter to gain access to the thought centers of vulnerable users, causing them to not even question the validity or authenticity of what they read or saw. Those who read these postings would then resend or repost them to their friends and followers. These successive waves of duplications and reiterations employed techniques originally engineered by media gurus to quickly and effectively influence the behaviors of millions of people, with the click of a mouse or a keypad. This may have in fact been the key factor in the underground tsunami that swept a most unlikely candidate (Donald Trump), into office. Even the most seasoned campaign watchers were caught with their pants down when it was announced he had eclipsed Hilary Clinton: A far more experienced, albeit ethically troubled candidate.

Whether you support the result of our election or not is irrelevant to this discussion. What is at stake is the methods by which minds may have been changed and outcomes may have been altered. Not through conventional means, such as individuals physically coming together in a town hall meeting or restaurant or to discuss their views and air their differences, but rather through the hijacking of our very minds for the purpose of seeding dissent among us. Do we really want to be used as pawns to further the causes of ideological entities that have no real interest in our prosperity or happiness?

Bringing it All Together

The cover of Juliet B. Schor's book "Born to Buy", begs the question, what can be done to preserve the integrity and sanctity of our minds and those of our children from the onslaught of marketers, demagogues and fanatics? How can we preserve the majesty of human consciousness rather than offering it up as a virtual billboard to the highest bidder?

By beginning to recognize what we have bought into. Under the guise of convenience, enhancement of communication and access to a global audience, we've exposed our most precious resource: Our Minds, and made them vulnerable to dominance by those whose only interest is the selling of an idea or a product.

And the youngest among us are those most at risk. It takes many years of sculpting, refining and nurturing to help a child become a successful adult. If we allow technology to usurp the role of parents, families and academic institutions, entire generations may be unable to make a decision or have a conversation without the assistance of their essential devise or application.

Will the concept of independent thought be relegated to a quaint notion from the past? If so, how will humanity distinguish between love and hate, good and bad, right and wrong? Are we doomed to follow whatever our phones tell us to do? Sadly, many children ended their lives when compelled to do so, via their phones, by their so called "Facebook friends".

Here are some suggestions that may help to defend us and our future from the steamroller of technology:

•Restrict children's access to phones and social media applicationsWhile it is true that parents now depend on phones to keep them connected with their kids during the day, in what seems like a world far more threatening to children, that does not necessarily need to include internet access.

Stress to children that the phone is for emergency use only and is not a toy. Nor is it to be used to call friends during school hours. Cell phone options can be easily customized by parents to include only the features you want your children to have and to exclude the ones you don't

• Make sure a child's computer is used for school work and not to access social mediaYou must insist that the computer is a tool to research and complete homework assignments. Be sure that you have administrative control over what is viewed and downloaded to that device and that you can access and review it at any time. If unwanted applications are found or internet history reveals visits to "restricted sites", there must be consequences.

Unfortunately constant surveillance is required to protect tender minds from the corrupting influence of social media.

• Spend time with your child learning on the computer.Rather than using the computer as a babysitter, spend time with your child using the computer as a teaching tool. Help them learn to access the positive attributes of the world wide web, rather than the darker ones they are likely to be drawn to. Watch animal videos, read children's stories from e-books, play games together that promote shared experiences rather than solitary ones.

•Take inventory of your own computer and cell phone use When you're around children, ensure you're not setting a bad example by allowing phone calls and texts to rob you of precious time together. Children may initially become angry at and frustrated by parents who prioritize time on the phone over time together. But later, they will model that behavior and throw it in your face if you admonish them to be more considerate.

• Subject matter and duration of video games must be monitored.Many computer games now incorporate sophisticated graphics that mimic real life. The most popular games unfortunately involve violence and even killing. The young person's mind is very vulnerable to being programmed by real and imagined events occurring around them. And while there is not yet a consensus on the role war based video games may play in the promotion of violent thoughts and behaviors, even a small chance that your child becomes numb to the suffering of others is too great a risk to take.

• The greatest antidote to the temptation of virtual reality is Nature.

The Natural world will always be cool!The boundless creativity, mystery, beauty and sensory stimulation available exceeds anything that will ever be experienced in the virtual world.

Start early to expose children to nature. No matter where you live, even in the inner city, Nature's opportunities to intrigue and engage begin just beyond your doorstep. Birds, bugs, rocks, plants, rain, snow, sunsets, clouds, oceans and lunar eclipses, to say nothing of the science that struggles to understand and explain it all.

---It is important that a child understands: The real world is not made up of pixels and bytes ---

Assemble a small garden. Even if it's on a balcony and get them involved in managing it. They will see for themselves that caring for something really can produce amazing results. Read books on Nature together; watch science programs, go on field trips. Heck, you might even learn something yourself.

It is important that a child understand that the world is not really made up of pixels and bytes, videos and emoticons, but rather is a magical and profoundly fascinating place that he or she can retreat to when the din of humanity exceeds their tolerance.

Nature is the TRUE REALITY not the virtual kind. And understanding the difference provides a child with a much broader knowledge base from which to find answers to inevitable questions like "Why do I exist?" and "What is my purpose?"

When the digital world frustrates and disappoints, as it does, repeatedly, knowing that there is a REAL world that is honest, authentic, compassionate and ever-lasting will be a source of great solace.

02/26/2018

On the afternoon of Feb. 14th, 2018, when most men are thinking of what card, candy or set of flowers they'll bring to the object of their affection, one man in particular decided this was a good day to bring an AR-15 assault rifle to his school and kill as many children and adults as possible. And due to countless mistakes and cowardice on the part of law enforcement, he succeeded in ending the lives of 17 souls.

And this is not a crime that rests on the shoulders of only one deranged individual. No. Lawmakers failing to challenge the National Rifle Association's (NRA) goal of making killing machines as accessible as bubble gum and law Enforcement's lack of follow through on signs and statements declaring this monster a clear and present danger to his community made this massacre all but assured.

To say nothing about the deputies who cowered outside during the melee, failing to do their job to protect the defenseless students, even thought they themselves were armed and most likely would have succeeded in taking out the killer, thereby saving many lives.

But this problem runs deeper than any one cowardly act or missed signal. As a society, we have a schizophrenic attitude when determining our priorities about guns and children's lives. Those on the Conservative side of the political spectrum have ordained that the rights of unborn children trumps that of women who may attempt to control their future by ending unplanned pregnancies. But those very children can be murdered in their own school and according to that same twisted Conservative logic, that should in no way impede the rights of gun owners to possess the very weapons used in those crimes. Even if it means that more children will surely die.

Who are those aiding and abetting these crimes? Countless politicians who cling frantically to their 2nd Amendment argument, while crying crocodile tears on television each time an institution of learning is turned into a war zone. And gun lobbyists who will stop at nothing to support and represent gun manufacturers, retailers and hunters Will they lose their jobs? Will they go to jail or be publicly shamed on television, in newspapers and across social media? No.

Guns at School vs Sex at Work. Which is a more pressing issue?

At the same time, politicians on both sides of the isle, CEO's and celebrities are being toppled daily. Publicly shamed, and excoriated across all media platforms for failing to curb natural biological urges in the workplace and elsewhere. Indeed, there are extremes that rise to the level of criminal activity, such as those committed by the likes of Harvey Weinstein. But many of these so-called abuses of power or acts of harassment were once accepted as a normal consequence of bringing men and women together under the stressful and socially complex umbrella of the workplace.

If you doubt or have no knowledge of what I'm saying, you can see the sordid and tempestuous encounters that have always sprung from the collective pressures of work accurately depicted in the artfully crafted series called "Mad Men".

But only recently have many more of these awkward and uninvited advances risen to the level of criminality in the eyes of society. Do these non-life-threatening acts of testosterone driven passion somehow carry a greater potential to shift social consciousness and change laws than the random and senseless killing of children? How is that possible?

Were a science fiction writer to conjure up a story where in a virus altered the collective consciousness of an entire nation and caused them to view unwanted sexual advances as a greater offense than the murder of children, the writer and his or her creation would be panned as garbage or maybe even labeled even nihilistic smut. And yet, this scenario very much resembles the topsy-turvy world we now live in. Sometimes, reality is indeed stranger than fiction.

But this is no joking matter. We had better get our priorities straight in this country. If our children are not safe, then the rights we claim to defend with our guns: To live in a free and open society, will be eroded. We will find ourselves living in a macabre world of our own making. A world in which narrow minded zealots are unwilling to prevent anyone from owning a gun, is a world where criminals and the insane will control our streets and institutions. It has been shown by the recent shooting at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, that having armed officers on school grounds is no guarantee that a mentally disturbed individual with a gun will still have his way. More guns are not the answer!

One day, we may witness a #MeToo movement of men and women who have lost children to gun wielding criminals as successful as that which is now changing attitudes on sexual advances in the workplace. I hope it doesn't come to that. But if the killing of our own children is not enough to get our attention and motivate us to work together to find solutions, I'm not sure what will.

Startling Statistics

According to ABC News and many other news outlets, as of this writing, there have been 18 school shootings in 2018. Yes, within the 2 month period since the New Year, there have been 18 verified school shootings. Where is the list of heads that have rolled in the halls of government and law enforcement for allowing this trend to continue unabated?

Meanwhile, more than 100 men and one woman have lost their jobs and in many cases had to surrender their entire life's work and careers due to accusations over sexual misconduct, harassment and or even flirting Here is a list.

It is not my intent to downplay the impact on victims of true abuse and harassment in the workplace. There needed to be a correction to check those in power, (more often than not, men), who have increasingly lorded their influence and coercion over those at their mercy, for the purpose of sexual favors. Making the provision of those favors a condition for continued employment. Individually, there wasn't much a victim could do to stop these abuses. Their complaints were ignored and/or they were victimized again through retribution, for attempting to expose the perpetrator's misdeeds.

A tipping point occurred for some reason after the exposure of Harvey Weinstein as a dangerous, serial abuser, who employed a team of "handlers" to ensure his abuses never saw the light of day and to provide a stream of new exploits to feed his nefarious obsession.

When will there be a similar tipping point to finally do whatever is necessary to bring media, industry and government together to end this barbaric killing of our children? How can we celebrate our advances in science, medicine and technology and thereby consider ourselves an evolved society, if we cannot even protect our children from being killed in their classrooms?

Here are some proposals to consider:

Make it illegal to sell guns to anyone under age of 25.

Not just 21. Research has shown that the human brain is still very much a work in progress well into the 3rd decade of life. Especially for boys and men. The prefrontal cortex, which is involved in risk assessment and decision making is still building interconnections and improving its function. To place or allow to be placed into the hands of a person with an under-developed sense of right and wrong a gun, is to court disaster.

Punish parents or guardians who whether by intent or ignorance make guns accessible to children that go on to commit crimes where those guns are involved.

Prior to the shooting, Nikolas Cruz, the perpetrator in the recent Florida shooting that left 17 souls dead, was taken in by Roxanne Deschamps, following the death of his mother from pneumonia. After violent outbursts that required law enforcement intervention, Cruz moved out of the Deschamps home and was taken in by Kim and James Snead. They were aware that he owned guns and that he was adamant about keeping them. They locked those guns up in a safe, presuming they were the only ones with the key to access them. It turned out that Cruz had a spare key and accessed those guns, resulting in the deaths at the Stoneman-Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018.

In spite of many worrying outbursts, Instagram posts and run-ins with law enforcement that should have labeled this disturbed young man as a severe threat to his community, not only was nothing done, but the foster parents, the Snead's, claim they had no idea he had this violent streak. Both of these foster parents have jobs requiring a keen intellect and ability to observe and make critical decisions. The husband is an Intelligence Analyst and the wife is a neonatal nurse. How could they be so clueless about this monster living right under their roof? And should they be held partially responsible for these senseless murders?

Conclusion

This is indeed a complex problem and no one has all the answers. But we had better start asking some hard questions and be willing to take drastic measures to ensure this and future generations of children do not arrive to adulthood with untreated PTSD from having grown up in a society that was unwilling to provide them a safe environment in which to learn. If you think anger and hatred is fueling much of the violence in our society today, just wait!

11/06/2017

BY ABUSING POWER WOMEN PLAY THEIR OWN NEFARIOUS ROLE IN CREATING AND PERPETUATING A SEXUALLY CHARGED WORKPLACE.

Yes, I know, that seems like the pot calling the kettle black. I know that many, if not most of you reading this feel that by virtue of the gender roles involved, that sexual abuse of a male, by a female, is by definition, “impossible”, unless of course it is perpetrated on a child. But, I am talking about adults.

Let’s examine those roles for a minute. Whether you’re a man or woman. you may feel that you were put on this earth for some lofty purpose. Perhaps to help others, to move humanity forward through innovation, or to solve environmental problems, write compelling media, or whatever. And while that may be important on the human scale, in the larger scheme of Nature’s long-term strategy, you have one purpose and one purpose only: To procreate. To perpetuate the species. And how is that accomplished? Get ready. There’s going to be a disturbing word here…..SEX!!

If you doubt my assessment of our true purpose in our planet’s complicated drama, consider how Nature imbues us with all the resources necessary to propel and support the production of offspring, during our child-bearing years through the power of our hormones. In women, this makes for soft hair, smooth, shiny skin and, breasts that are full and round. Even the menstrual cycle, which is an annoyance for many women, is a monthly reminder that contained within them is the ebb and flow of creation itself. In men, testosterone levels rise and peak years and sex is a constant preoccupation. Spontaneous erections occur day and night, as every thought and behavior seems to emanate from a desire for or expectation of an intimate rendezvous.

In adolescence, the dance of love and sex are on full display, as young bodies and minds experiment with their respective powers of attraction and persuasion. Young men may build their bodies to impress women with their strength and prowess. Women may dress to reveal their feminine attributes, seeking to gain attention through sensual stimulation: Appearance, scent, tone of voice, etc. Most of us accept this dance as a rite of passage into adulthood. A temporary insanity that hopefully leads to lasting satisfaction through marriage and family.

But in reality, this dance never stops, it just becomes more complicated. And when less than subtle and unwelcome advances or sexual references are made by men, toward women it leads to discomfort in a workplace that is increasingly a melting pot of genders, cultures and sexual orientations. And after a tipping point like the Weinstein debacle, we now see a firestorm of allegations against men in powerful positions, exerting control over women for the procurement of sex. But this is nothing new, and it would be naive to assume that some combination of legislation, shaming or professional rebuke will bring it all to an end. It may make it less visible for a time, but as always, our baser instincts will eventually rise to the surface and take center stage again.

Where sex is concerned, women enjoy it as much or maybe even more than men do, but they are not driven by it. They can turn it on or off at will, depending on their situation.

Why? The truth is, we are all selfish creatures. We want what we want and we will use any and all resources at our disposal to get it. We know men want sex. Even elderly men, for whom sexual intercourse has become an impossible dream, cannot resist the temptation to turn their head in the presence of an attractive woman. This drive that men have to pursue, to be the tool through which life’s catalyst is disseminated is the most enduring and powerful urge in Nature. It is at the core of our being. The raw, untamable animal that still thrives within us. A fundamental and irrepressible instinct that cannot be sublimated by the thin vail of “civility”. And toppling successful men from their professional and political thrones will not alter that fact one iota. But this phenomenon of coercing or even abusing others to achieve their goals is not limited to men. Perhaps it is time to ask:

How have women been abusing their power over men for centuries?

This question is conspicuously missing from the discussion of power imbalances between the sexes. And because men are reproached by their peers and society at large if they reveal a fundamental weakness that is being exploited by others, you are not likely to hear much about this side of the gender equation. But that does not mean that its examination has no merit. Indeed it does.

Men, by nature are impulsive. Impulsivity is at what makes them good hunters and warriors. Stopping to think and plan when you’re in the path of a charging rhino is a recipe for disaster. Looking into you’re opponent’s eyes to take inventory of his soul during hand to hand combat can get you killed. So natural selection has programmed men to act first and ask questions later. Their actions are overt and transparent. They ask for what they want, whether verbally or through their actions, their agenda is clear. And where women are concerned, what they want the pleasure of physical contact. And for men in highly stressful and demanding jobs and or positions, this need for stress relief reaches a fever pitch. It begins to feel as if their very survival depends on it. And indeed, it may. History is rife with stories of men in powerful positions, facing impossible challenges, seeking relief and refuge in passionate affairs. Granted, these affairs were most often consensual. But nonetheless, it makes clear that sex is a way for men to diffuse and deal with the sometimes overwhelming challenges that life throws at them.

What do women want?

Women on the other hand have other ways to diffuse their stress. They are, for the most part, more social. Women love to gather in groups, gossip and laugh. Shopping is another satisfying outlet that takes their mind of problems at home or at work. And when we trace this affinity for community and acquisition back to its origins, we can see that it dovetails perfectly with their natural roles as mothers, homemakers and nurturers. Women have gathered together for millennia to care collectively for their infants and children. They may even share their breast milk with another’s the offspring, to maintain the bond between them and ensure the survival of their community or tribe.

Where sex is concerned, women enjoy it as much or maybe even more than men do, but they are not driven by it. They can turn it on or off at will, depending on their situation. What matters to women is security. And what contributes to security? Money, home, status, comfort, popularity, friendship and some level of control over their primary relationships. These are the baser instincts that drive women, as they have from the beginning of time. But women are more patient. They can wait, conspire, manipulate, and cajole to get what they want. And more often than not, the object of these calculations are powerful men. Like it or not, men have, on the whole, held positions of power in society. Their combative, impulsive nature and limitless stamina provide the sheer force to bore through or leap over obstacles. They may choose to not be encumbered by family responsibilities or the rearing of children and they don’t have to deal with a monthly cycle. They are free to focus all their energies on domination. And once they succeed, they become the target of aspiring women. A stepping stone into a life which women feel is unattainable by any other means.

And this is the stage upon which abuse of female power rears its ugly head. In some women, a passive / aggressive strategy begins to form that is so subtle, it is often undetected by men. And that strategy is centered upon appealing to men’s primary achilles heal, their intrinsic weakness. Sex. And this “baiting”, if we can call it that, can have unpredictable, even dangerous consequences for women, ranging from off color sexual comments to rape. Ironically, if and when this plan backfires, these same women will claim victimhood and assume no responsibility for the result of their actions. They will claim a right to dress or act as they wish, secretly aware that such behavior is very effective at triggering male attention and hence, preferential treatment, This duality of behaving badly and then crying fowl is at the core of the one-sided campaign now being waged against men. Sure, in a perfect world men would keep their impulses under control. But when stress and the presence of female coercion converge, women have an unfair advantage.

And how does this abuse of female power affect men?

I have listened to countless interviews of and complaints by women about how a sexually charged workplace has interfered with their ability to feel comfortable, valued or to advance. And yet, through the use of make up, lipstick, implants, push up bras, plunging necklines, high heels, expensive perfume, sexy outfits and the like, they create what is essentially a sexual sucker punch. Can you image how a man might dress with equal provocation? Imagine an executive coming to work in a leotard, rather than a suit. This garment would be so form fitting that the crack of his ass and the outline of his genitals would be visible. If indeed, a male employee showed up to work dressed like this, he’d be thrown out on his ear.

But women have the latitude to dress as they please. They can dial up the sexual heat through their many avenues of accentuation and it’s rarely challenged.

Add to this, the often subtle and not so subtle cues like suggestive glances, flicking of the hair, or bending over a desk while wearing a low cut blouse. This is tantamount to a tease and the effect of creating tremendous distraction and preoccupation for men. They are simply unable to be in the presence of such provocative visual signals without becoming aroused. And when that arousal causes them to react in inappropriate ways, we blame them for behaving exactly as nature intended.

Of course most women will not admit to engaging in such provocative behavior. For some, that may be true or they may not be aware of it. But I would bet, if most women, who have suffered unwelcome advances from men in the workplace took inventory of their motives and were honest with themselves, they would find some truth in what I’ve said.

Now this in no way excuses rape, or forced sexual encounters of any kind. That is violence and exploitation and is not acceptable under any circumstances.

But when a man puts his hand on a woman’s knee, when he touches the small of her back, when he looks perhaps a little too long at a her breasts, or makes sexual references during a dinner outingthis should not be a career ending transgression. The woman involved may want to examine if and how her dress or behavior may have contributed to these unwelcome overtures. If modifications are then made and the behavior continues, perhaps it’s time for a transfer to another job or department. But don’t just march into Human Resources and threaten to sue the company unless they fire this individual. Oh yes, in this politically correct and litigious society we now live, you may indeed succeed in getting him fired, and or in obtaining a sizable settlement from the company. But then don’t go blabbing to about the need for others to act with integrity or to take personal responsibility.

What is the solution?

Let’s just cool down, step back from the precipice and be realistic. Sex is the reason we are all here. It may not always be welcomed, it may not be pretty or pleasant to think about, but it is here to stay. And Nature has placed men in the position of being the pursuers. Can we all agree on that? Women play coy, act uninterested and fein annoyance, but in the end, sometimes a persistent man succeeds in getting the girl. In fact women often say that men give up too easily. In the course of their little act of avoidance, men get the impression they are being rejected and give up. Women are understandably confused by this. They feel ambivalent about what they are supposed to do. If they give in too quickly, they’ll be labeled as “easy”. If they respond too slowly, guys give up.

For men, this dance is equally confusing and frustrating. For many, work is where the majority of their social interaction takes place. It is where they are likely to meet the greatest concentration of women. And while it may be frowned upon to dabble in romance at the workplace, more people meet their future spouse at work then in all other social settings combined. So there must be a little give and take and mutual empathy for the respective burdens each gender carries in the sexual dance.

Now again, I am not referring to lewd, aggressive, demeaning or threatening behavior. This should never be tolerated under any circumstance.

But as is so often the case with human behavior, we tend to allow the pendulum to swing to the extreme when issues arise and the risk here is that innocent, maybe even awkward, but otherwise well-intentioned behavior will be misconstrued and mislabeled as sexual harassment.

For women, understand that when you “dress to kill”, you are not only getting attention from other women in the office, (which you may want), but also from men, (which you may not want). It is not an innocuous and innocent enterprise. You are increasing the chances you will receive reactions you may not have intended or desired. If and when this happens, it is not fair to blame only men for lacking self control. You must learn to take responsibility for the waves you set in motion. As Newton described, “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction”. This applies not only to physics but also to human interaction. And when you play with fire, you are much more likely to get burned.

10/16/2017

Having just visited this especially beautiful pocket of Northern California, Napa and Sonoma Counties, its bucolic majesty was still fresh in my mind when I heard the first murmurings of a fire in the area. Wildfires are a fact of life in these semi-arid regions of the State, whose meadows and hillsides often grow emerald green with winter rain and then dry out to a tawny brown soon after Spring has bid her farewell. It is just this characteristic velvety brown landscape that provides one important component for a fire to take hold

The local fire stations and volunteer departments are used to these flair ups. And when one happens, it barely makes the local papers or registers a mention on the evening news. The rapid response of these fire fighters almost always achieves the upper hand before homes, livestock or other precious resources are ever threatened.

But on the rare occasions that there is that perfect storm and elemental forces conspire to create a conflagration of horrific proportions, there is little anyone can do but run for their lives. By the time dispatchers sent the first team to knock down the flames that appeared overnight, it was already too late. Building quietly somewhere in a dark canyon and fueled by what residents call “The Diablo Winds” once fire had made it to the first ridge, in the wee hours of the morning, it had become a seething, monster, determined to leave only stone and metal in its wake.

It moved so fast, that those in its path barely had time to don a robe, gather the children or elderly parents and beat a hasty retreat through a gauntlet of towering flames. Left behind were all the seemingly indispensable minutia that make up a home: Musical instruments, photo albums, heirlooms from generations past and in so many cases, a sanctuary built through loving plans and hands to safely ride out the golden years.

So many chose this beautiful area for retirement. With countless micro-farms, wineries and specialty restaurants dotting the valleys, foothills and towns, living in the Napa / Sonoma area has always represented a captivating blend of metropolitan and rural amenities. The comfortable pace and lifestyle, friendly atmosphere and proximity to medical centers, universities and the economic powerhouses that are San Francisco and Silicon Valley, gave this region the moniker “God’s country”. What I always interpreted to mean, “where God would live, were he (or she), were to ever be in the market”.

Though I now live in Southern California, ironically, what many consider the epicenter of wild infernos, for me, the devastation to the North Bay has left an emotional scar. You see, I once lived there. You might say, I grew up there. Having moved from Los Angeles, in my early twenties, to seek a closer and deeper connection to Nature, I found the environs in which I wished I had spent my childhood. And over the ensuing decades, I came to know it intimately… better than most.

I brought with me that Southern California affinity for the automobile. And with my trusty steed, I would spend weekends on long excursions, in search of new views, lakes, nurseries, wineries, towns or experiences yet to be discovered. One one such trip, I came across an exotic zoo, tucked away in the uniquely beautiful valley that ascends from the windy Mark West Springs Rd. This road wends its way from Eastern Santa Rosa to Calistoga, passing wineries, farms, aging barns, horse pastures, but mostly, some of the most scenic countryside to be found anywhere. At the intersection of Franz Valley School Rd, can be found Safari West. And on this particular day, while joyriding down the road, I glimpsed a giraffe peeking out over a fence. Now, I have seen many odd things in the North Bay: Creative farmers have experimented with raising emu, lamas, long horned cattle and even bison on these productive pastures. But giraffe?

I made a u-turn and indeed, found a giraffe eager to engage with me. Especially if I tempted her with a clump of fresh grass. Soon, her calf appeared. Her head barely topped the fence, but her eyes seemed to capture all that is mysterious and beautiful in Nature with one glance. I was hooked! And in several weeks, I was working there as a docent. The experiences I had and the memories I made during that incredible summer I will reserve for another day. But suffice it to say, I was more familiar than most with that road, having traveled it many times on my way to and from that little preserve in the hills, North East of Santa Rosa.

It is the same road that I recently took my wife to visit for the first time, as I introduced to her the small part of the universe where I grew into manhood and where I left a piece of my heart. She marveled at the countless doglegs and switchbacks that make this highway so fun to drive. With my trusty 4Runner, I took them as fast as I safely could, giving us both the visceral sensation of centrifugal force as we leaned this way and that, descending ever deeper into the canyon. We imagined coming back some day soon in a rented convertible sports car, dropping the top and feeling the fresh wind in our hair as we inhaled the aroma of oak and pine.

But alas, it is that same oak and pine forest that has now been mostly consumed by the fire. For us, the memory is bittersweet. We feel lucky to have seen it just weeks before it burned, but now we gasp at the thought that it might remain only an image in our minds rather than a place we can actually revisit.

What Is Home

This brings me to the concept I alluded to in the title of this article: Home. What is home anyway? This week and in the weeks and months ahead, I and many thousands will need to wrestle with that question. For those who now live and work in this area and who were recently evacuated to shelters, anxiously awaiting word about their cherished property and belongings, life may be forever changed. The economic realities of the area make it such that it serves as a bedroom community for commuters working in and around San Francisco. By the thousands, each weekday, they wend their way south along the 101, like a red snake in the dawn light, to jobs that are not available above the Sonoma County line. For those who have now lost that home, relocation North or South will probably not be an option. The ensuing calculation will go something like this: Move farther North, to Windsor and Healdsburg, where the commute becomes an impossible barrier? Or, move South, into Marin County, where rents and home prices are beyond the means of all but the most well off? The conundrum has no easy answer. And for those who were uninsured or for whom insurance will not sufficiently compensate their loss, the road back to equilibrium will be long indeed. They may need to move completely out of the area and then struggle to find a new definition of “Home”, one that will be incomplete at best.

For me, it is less well defined. Napa and Sonoma county, or what is variously called “The North Bay”, or "Wine Country", was a kind of “Home” I returned to in my mind countless times over the preceding decades. While the intrepid residents of this area will no doubt find the strength and vision to rebuild, it will be many decades, (if ever), before the myriad forests, vineyards, wineries and little farms reestablish and bring back the relaxed and timeless character that I recall. It will take a while to resolve the tension between this image in my mind and what may now be the reality. It may indeed be necessary to return and create new memories there, as the land and the people that love it evolve and heal from their ordeal.

Let Us Learn from Others' Misfortune

For the rest of us, let this be a cautionary tale. Our planet and our climate is changing. Whether you believe that or not does not alter the fact. Whether climate change was responsible for this particular tragedy, no one can be sure. One thing we do know however, is that California now has a year-round fire season. There is no part of this state, or frankly our country that is immune to the prospect of a catastrophic inferno. We must not ignore this fact and change our behavior to respond to this new reality.

1. Prepare your home to resist fire's assault. Remove dry or dying vegetation from on and around your property. If an adjoining home is poorly maintained, try to work with the owner to create a mutually beneficial fire-resistant landscape. Cut down trees or shrubs close to the house, that might catch fire and drop embers on roofs or in clogged rain gutters. Also, keep those gutters cleaned.

2. If you have a large property, irrigate the areas close to the home. On that land farther from the house, for which irrigation would be impractical or too expensive, keep weeds mowed, dead trees removed, and fire breaks, such as roads and dry creek beds well managed.

3. Prepare a suitcase with essentials: Clothing, copies of important documents, cash, car keys, water, etc. When and if you have to leave in minutes, there will be no time to gather these things.

4. Have an evacuation plan in place. That may involve rope ladders to escape multi storied units, easy access to well-maintained vehicles, and at least 2 unimpeded avenues of escape.

5. Finally, look around your home. Make sure you have working hoses attached to every spigot. In the event embers are dropping on your roof from some distance away, you may be able to save your property just by dousing those sparks.

That is what Peter Lang did, the owner of Safari West. Somehow, due to his vigilance, ingenuity and sheer determination, he kept his prize Safari West from burning. In fact, this week, a new baby giraffe was born. They called her "Tubbs" after the most massively destructive fire that raged through the area.

If he can do that with his 400+ acres, then the rest of us might have a fighting chance to save our home a well, if and when the unthinkable happens...

09/26/2017

The following is an excerpt from the synopsis of a new book by Theo E.J. Wilson, a man who could be characterized as a modern day Martin Luther King, Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau, all wrapped up into one....

And you've probably never heard of him.

"The Law of Action"."Let's be realistic! If staying mentally focused on only what you want were enough to attract it, you’d have it by now. Although the laws of the mind are powerful tools, there is another side of the equation. It’s the action factor. It is the spiritual growth that comes from the doing, even if the doing is hard. There’s an elbow-grease component that is missing from modern metaphysics. Too often, the teachings of today lack the backbone necessary to be universally applicable. The fire has gone out of the philosophies, leaving us with a pile of watered down, westernized half-truths. Quietly, the seekers have begun to rebel, misled by feel-good gurus who promise success for the masses, and deliver only for the few. Is there a spiritual law that works anywhere in the world, regardless of class or material access? How do we make sense of the darkness in our world (and in ourselves,) to the gain the understanding to transmute it? The answer is The Law of Action". - Theo E.J. Wilson

Throughout my book "The Happiness Tree" and on this blog, I have decried the travesty of modern day gurus, false prophets and charlatans hocking the same warmed over psychobabble to generation after generation, promising them that merely wanting something badly enough will cause it to manifest in their lives. But they don't yell this from the rooftops or hand carry leaflets door to door, selflessly passing along their supposed wisdom for the benefit of humanity. NO! They charge exorbitant fees to unlock this "Secret Knowledge", taking advantage of the very people they proclaim they are committed to help.

As an example, it was recently brought to my attention that Lisa Garr, the Emcee of the Aware Show, an online podcast that has operated for over a decade, interviewing leaders in the... shall we say, "New Age Movement", was generously extending to her listeners the following special offer:

She would select 8 people that would work directly with her and gain access to her special insight so that they might be able to manifest their dreams as she had done, lo those many years ago.

And how did she attain this amazing success?

By her own admission, from special mentors in her life, like Wayne Dyer, who sadly for the rest of us, passed recently into the light of infinite spiritual bliss, bless his soul. In her video appeal, selling her amazing opportunity, she looks into the camera with as much conjured compassion as she can muster and reveals to us how she was saved from obscurity by the altruism of Wayne and other movers and shakers, such as Louise Hay, the current reigning Prima Donna of New Age nonsense, who has become a multi-millionaire many times over by publishing and distributing this rubbish to a seriously neurotic audience of sycophants.

I took up the challenge (with a healthy dose of skepticism), to see if I might be lucky enough to receive this blessed assistance from Lisa to further my professional and spiritual aspirations.

On the simple online form, I was asked questions like: (paraphrasing), Tell Us a Little About Yourself; What Special Qualities Might Make You a Good Candidate For Lisa's Program? and finally, What Do You Hope To Get Out Of Your Time With Lisa?

I took my time and tried to be open minded about the process. Digging deep into my consciousness to find kernels of passion and poignancy I could bleed on to the page to gain her attention. When I was finished, I submitted the form and was redirected to a final page that informed me of the following:

Opportunities like this are rare and not free. If selected for Lisa's program, would you be willing and able to make a 5 figure financial commitment to your future?

WTF!!!

50, 60, $70,000 or more? Who knows where it might end? If these people are good at anything, it's stringing along their followers, with promises of even more access to their special brand of bullshit. Once you're in the grasp of their grubby hands, the proverbial "Yellow Brick Road" will always be just over the horizon.

Okay, enough of my ranting and raving. On to the true prophet and truth seeker of our time. Theo E.J. Wilson.

He has a new book out which clearly describes his modus operandi: "The Law of Action". (Not the Law of Attraction). It is available by clicking on the cover below.

I recently listed to Mr. Wilson giving a TED talk. I was incredibly impressed with his eloquence and poetic delivery. When I looked more deeply into his background, I found that his is indeed a Renaissance Man of many talents. Not the least of which is Poetry. He has received winning accolades at many poetry slam events. I found it impossible look away during his presentation. He is a Force of Nature on the stage, commanding attention and driving his point into the minds of his audience with the subtleness of a velvet Samurai.

Here is the presentation through which I was introduced to Mr. Wilson. I do hope we are privileged to hear much more from him in the future. I hope he applies his mission to one of the the many critical problems plaguing humanity. We need honest, passionate men and women of integrity to help us pave a road to a brighter, more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future.

09/05/2017

Climate change is a cunning beast, laying low, giving us pause to again become complacent or dust off our denial. Then it happens, Texas suffers its 3rd Hurricane in a decade, the 5th since 2000 and by all estimates, Harvey, being the worst, characterized as a 1 in 1000 year event.

Now, as I write, another hurricane, "Irma" is bearing down on the Florida coast. Poised to hit the Caribbean islands first, with possible catastrophic damage occurring to Florida by Saturday - As Houston just begins to dry out and assess the damage and the Federal Government struggles to find the resources to begin rebuilding that city and helping its residents. Soon Florida may need the same assistance, putting a tremendous strain on our already unstable economy.

Today, I heard that London, England has been protected by a series of massive walls, called the Thames Embankment, to keep the River from inundating the city, as it did in 1928. They also realize, that by 2050 or so, it will need to be amended to adjust for the rising waters caused by climate change. How is it that we as individuals can deny a reality which compels entire cities and nations to spend billions.

Many other metropolitan areas are bracing or preparing for what they deem to be an inevitable threat that will devastate its coastal communities unless something is done. Even as our President chooses to deny the existence of wildly accepted science painting a doomsday scenario unless we all act to address the underlying causes of climate change.

It is daunting I know. The challenge is so massive it almost boggles the mind. But so was WWll and Polio and so many other cataclysms that threatened to challenge humanity's future. And yet, with collective action and the help of our government, we met and defeated these adversaries. Why is it we feel so apathetic in the face of this threat?

I think I have an answer and it strikes at the heart of what we as a nation, as a culture, have become. Lazy.

And I point not the finger only to others, but also to myself. I love the internal combustion engine in my car. Do I want to replace it with an electric vehicle that gets me where I'm going, for sure, but without the excitement of 6 cylinders exploding an air / fuel mixture inside a hermitically sealed chamber and sending the resulting energy to the back wheels via a series of gears turning inside a marvelous mechanism called a transmission? Electrons flowing down a wire and turning an electro-magnetic motor bores the heck out of me.

Would it in fact make some small contribution toward addressing our looming crisis, by keeping just a little carbon out of the air? Perhaps. It's complicated. Because the electricity I would use to charge that vehicle's batteries would have to be generated somehow. Depending on where you live, that electrical generation may be driven by solar panels, or also natural gas or even coal. Granted, when power is centrally generated and sent out via an infrastructure like an electrical grid, it is more efficient and less polluting then having that equivalent energy produced by an internal combustion engine burning gas. But is that enough to really make a difference? Maybe, if the shift was on a large enough scale.

Yet, consumers are tepid on electric vehicles. They accounted for barely 2% of auto sales in the last year that was analyzed. And as a result, the essential vehicle charging stations are not being built to support and serve that small demographic. And when they are put in, the ugly interference of capital interests rears its ugly head yet again: Different electric car manufacturers and different charging station interests are devising proprietary equipment to serve primarily "their" customers. So if you drive up in a Nissan Leaf for an example, you may not be able to charge from a station that was built for a Tesla or a Prius. This corporate-centered mentality will leave many EV owners stranded and they know it. So, what seemed like a good, socially progressive idea is once again corrupted by greed.

So what about Solar Panels; Composting your waste; Growing a garden to become less reliant on wasteful industrial farming; Planning your week to make fewer trips, or walking instead of driving, whenever possible; Turning off lights that aren't needed, Wearing warmer clothes rather than heating the house to a toasty 80 degrees.

Would these things make a difference? I'm not sure. And that is what sets this crisis apart from the others I mentioned: Nazis are an enemy you can see. Polio was clearly contagious and therefore, biological. But climate change is far more complicated and the truth is, we are all culpable in some way, shape or form, by continuing to remain in denial or presuming there is nothing we can do or worse: Knowing we can do something and still choosing not to.

It the book, he clearly describes the what Climate Change is and what's behind it. But rather than being a doom and gloom story, the information offers a ray of hope. That hope arises from the fact that what we have been doing seems to be having a positive effect: The concentration of heat-trappng gasses in our atmosphere has not risen for the last 3 years. Additionally, new technologies that are currently being developed promise to reduce our carbon footprint, rather than just reacting to it. And though I have not finished reading his compelling work, I do hope to discover ways that I can make a real difference in my own life, even as I remain firmly ensconced in my comfort zone.

Let me know your thoughts and what you and or your community are doing to address climate change

08/19/2017

I am sorry to define one of Humanity's hallowed institutions in such stark terms, but when you honestly compare the two seemingly disparate environments, the likeness is undeniable.

Let's take the recent tragic events in Barcelona, where 14 people were killed and over a hundred injured in a "mowing" attack, which took place in broad daylight in that city's iconic Ramblas shopping area.

In case you missed this "all to familiar" story: A van, driven by an as yet unidentified assailant, drove down the iconic Ramblas shopping area in Barcelona at a high rate of speed, weaving from side to side in an effort to run over as many pedestrians as possible. In a separate, but probably coordinated attack, two police officers were also struck in a different area on the same day. They were both killed. The total now stands at 14, which may increase if some of the many critically injured expire in the hospital.

I was just there three weeks earlier. Vacationing in Spain, as so many do from across the globe, I found the city at once charming and chaotic. I have a natural fear of crowds and congested areas. And for someone like me, a place like Barcelona's city center is a cluster of unsettling sights and sounds. An odd man who looks at you a little too long, or a car that drives erratically, etc. Though those in my midst seemed blissfully ignorant of any perceived warp in the natural order of things, my defense mechanisms were on high alert. Perhaps that is what caused me to make the observation when I was there, that Las Ramblas would make a perfect target for a radicalized extremest to conduct a car attack.

Las Ramblas is like a broad sidewalk or median strip. On either side of that pedestrian area is a two lane road that provides access for commercial vehicles to make deliveries or commuters to avoid even busier streets elsewhere.

As you can see, on any given day, there are hundreds of persons densely packed, milling around, each lost in their own unique world of shopping, architectural wonder and people watching. Cars and trucks whiz by only feet away, without even a curb to separate them from the throng.

On the day I was there, I also was snapping pictures of the charming architectural wonders that line the entire district. But I couldn't shake the notion that we were like sitting ducks in that funnel of humanity. Right in the cross-hairs of a errant vehicle that might leave the road either intentionally or by virtue of having lost control. I kept looking behind me, scanning my surroundings in every direction, looking for anything out of place.

And though Spain is not unique in this regard, pick-pockets abound. Distracted shoppers, flush with cash represent a business opportunity for clans of criminals that steel from tourists with the finesse of a surgeon. Men with wallets in their back pocket or women with purses dangling by their shoulders present low-hanging fruit to these scammers, who have elevated this type of personal attack to an art form. Often, the victim has no idea they were robbed until they reach for their wallet or pocketbook and find it missing. We met half a dozen co, uples who were assaulted in this way, turning what was supposed to be their relaxing vacation into a mind-jarring nightmare of having been violated.

It was only after returning home, that I began to process the whole experience. Then upon hearing the tragic news that my fear was indeed prescient, I realized, we can only become victims of this ubiquitous threat if we continue to be complacent about the reality of our cities. They have become the new Savana, where we, like pack animals roam to feed, engage in mating rituals, recreate and relax and where we may become at any time, the victim of a predatory act.

It has often been stated, that there is safety in numbers. It is this philosophy that has allowed people to feel at ease in crowds. But this once wise strategy has been turned on its head, suddenly, it is crowds that are targeted.

Unlike grazing bison or elephants, facing outward to protect the young and weak from a carousing wolf pack or snarling lion, there is no defense against a 3 ton hunk of hot metal careening into a crowd at 60 miles an hour. This is not the case of one or even several hungry predators seeking vulnerable individuals to feed their young or satisfy their own hunger: that is almost honorable and even understandable by comparison with the senseless bloodshed sought and promulgated by the vermin that live in our midst.

In some ways, a prey animal on the Savana has more warning and opportunity to escape. A lion will always look like a lion. Four legged predators cannot don a disguise. The best they can do is skulk in the tall grass and hope that their outline or their scent is not detected by their intended victim. But human predators look for the most part like you and me. It could be your neighbor, a person delivering a package, a customer in a pizza joint. No stranger is completely beyond suspicion and therefore, unfortunately, everyone must be considered a potential threat.

I know, I know, you say, this is no way to live. But I say, This is how you will continue to live. The bubble you have presumed is your protection, has suddenly become your prison of ignorance.

What to do:

A.Avoid cities whenever possible. I know this sounds ridiculous, but over the last century, there has been a disapora of humanity streaming from rural areas across the globe, to densely populated cities, in search of opportunities, jobs, social activities, whatever. This has spurred tremendous economic growth, technological advancements and many things that are positive for our society. But it has also made us all more vulnerable then ever. Terrorists who seek to wage cowardly attacks en masse, find easy pickins in our crowded cities, where inhabitants and visitors alike, must become inured to loud noises, odd looking people or other potential signs of danger.

B.If you live in or must go to a city.... shopping mall, concert hall or other crowded venues, make a point to familiarize yourself with the exits, first and foremost. Ask yourself, "If I had to escape this place in a hurry, maybe in the dark, how would I do it"? If you're in a group, take a moment to agree on that plan of action and where you'll meet if the unthinkable happens.

C.Watch everything. Imagine yourself a gazelle on the Savana, because, increasingly, that is how you're seen by a growing nefarious element in our society. Know that danger can emerge from any and every direction and as you're supposed to when you're driving, scan near and far, looking for anything out of place. Do not a lulled into a state of complacency or allow your attention be diverted for more than a second. Make awareness of your environment a supreme priority anywhere and everywhere you travel.

Ask yourself: How is it that a 3 ton van could be barreling down a pedestrian breezeway, roaring and rattling, mowing down and obliterating everything in its path and still be undetected by so many soon to become its next victims? It seems incomprehensible, but that is exactly what happened.

Remember, there is no longer safety in numbers. There is now only safety in personal and perpetual vigilance.

08/09/2017

You cannot go even one day without reading or hearing a news report related to our changing climate. The reason for this is that the ripples we have set in motion are building more rapidly than most imagined possible.

There were those who saw this day coming and tried to warn us, but most of us just figured the problem would get solved somehow. Well here we are and though there are positive movements in the works such as the Paris Climate Agreement, there are those in power who are seeking a political and or economic benefit to withdrawing the support of the United States of America in a global solution.

But we are fortunate to have Al Gore, who has been attempting to get our attention to the power of this building crisis at least since 2006, with the publishing of his first book: An Inconvenient Truth

Read on to learn more about the history of this movement and how you can now get involved and involve others in real and lasting change.

I recall reading "An Inconvenient Truth" Vice President Gore's first book on the climate crisis, when it came out in 2006.

For many, this may have been their first awareness of a mandate for environmental action But, many other prominent voices over the last two-hundred years have attempted to capture our attention to the inevitability of crisis we now face.

Notable among those were James Lovelock and his powerful series of Gaia books, "Gaia" being the ancient Greek word for Earth.

Long before that, the unlikely activist Rachel Carson shook the world into a renaissance of transcendental fervor with her brilliant work "Silent Spring".

Her thorough research and compelling message began a movement so strong, it resulted in the enactment of The Endangered Species Act, of 1973. Signed into law by a Republican, President Nixon.

I am proud to say that I have witnessed these courageous acts during my lifetime and in my own way, woven each leader's message into the fabric of my own life.

But never has a leader in the Environmental Movement taken on such a challenge as Mr. Gore.

Recruiting concerned citizens from all over the globe to be ambassadors advocating for our Planet's future, which of course is Humanity's future.

I am delighted to have an opportunity to join one of my heros in the field of science to truly bring this juggernaut of climate change to a halt.

There has never been a time more critical than now, but it will take the actions of every soul to reverse what has been indisputably created by our own hand.

The Earth and Humanity need a Health Plan, a new, powerful campaign for true and lasting change and a leader to take us there.

The time is now, the leader is the Nobel Laureate Al Gore and the vehicle is the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Sign up today. Win the right to brag to your grandchildren that you were a change-maker, when it counted. The future is truly in our hands.

01/23/2017

A new salvo in the war of words between Donald Trump, his staff and well…. everyone else.

You’ve no doubt heard yesterday’s comment by KellyAnne Conway to Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet The Press”, The comment was in response to Todd asking why Sean Spicer was sent to the White House briefing room to meet with the Media (what we used to call “Reporters”), and asked, presumably by the President to float a bold faced lie in response to reports that Trump's inauguration was poorly attended. “The crowd was the largest ever. Period”. is how Spicer characterized it. Which was of course revealed as false seconds afterward across the globe, with images streaming on Twitter, Facebook and everywhere else, comparing the sea of Humanity attending Obama’s inauguration with the anemic turnout for Trump’s big day.

Conway defended Spicer's comment by saying it represented"Alternative Facts". And consequently, she revealed that she, her boss and apparently the entire Trump administration are comfortable with projecting a sort of “parallel reality” , as long as the goal of obfuscation, subterfuge and distortion is achieved.

Is that what we have to look forward to for the next 4 years? If so, we had all better bone-up on the meaning of “The Absolute Truth” and learn to recognize when stupid, careless or malevolent individuals are trying to pass off some facsimile there of.

What is the Truth?

Liars, scam artists, people with borderline personality disorders and apparently some politicians will try to convince us that there are various versions of The Truth. So, let’s be clear: The Truth is absolute. There is only One Truth. There may be people’s opinions about what that Truth is, but the fact remains, there are lies, versions, deviations, fictionalized accounts, people’s beliefs and then, there is The Truth.

Now, the Truth may be revised, when new FACTS are presented, but again, there are FACTS and then there are, the now infamous inversions called, “Alternative Facts”.

Those with a Conservative and or Republican political persuasion will read my words and presume I am only pointing out this incident to further beat down and delegitimize their chosen leader. First of all, nothing I could say or do would further that cause more than Trump’s own words and those of his staff. But no. My intent here is to use this incident to point out that I, like many trusting people of conscience, have been victimized by unscrupulous individuals who operate from one Machiavellian mindset:

“Whatever it takes to achieve my goals is right and just. My needs and desires exceed those of all others and I will have my way, regardless of who suffers”.

It is just this mindset that has empowered murderers, corporate thieves, terrorists, dictators, rapists, gold diggers, wife beaters and other scum of the Earth to subject their innocent and unfortunate victims to their particular brand of evil.

I have struggled to understand this departure from civilized behavior and have concluded that those with integrity, compassion and empathy for others will never be able to fully wrap their mind around what makes this sort of creature tick. But I do believe that I have deduced one trait they all share, one unspoken credo that they all live by:

“If you’re stupid enough to fall for this shit, then you deserve to suffer”.

If you agree with me that there may be even a little veracity in that statement, then you have a responsibility to yourself and loved ones to be on the lookout for these imposters, obfuscators, liars and manipulators. They are all around you, not just in our political system, but lurking behind a telephone, making unsolicited calls; coming to your door, using this or that excuse to gain your confidence; on the used car lot; in the courtroom; on television; radio, as well as everywhere on the internet. You must be on the lookout for these predators, just as the Gazelle must constantly be wary of the lion or hyena.

So to conclude: When you hear anyone, especially someone who presumes to lead others, allow a phrase like “Alternative Facts” to fall nonchalantly from their lips, rest assured, there will be other half truths, outright lies and deceptions to come.

"When we turn our back on the enemy, that is when we are most likely to we feel the cold thrust of the knife".

12/15/2016

Let's say you need to obtain a document critical to refinancing your home.

You call your current mortgage company to request the document. The first voice you hear belongs to a computer. You prevail through the plethora of mind-numbing choices and select the one that seems to best fit your particular need.

If you're lucky enough to eventually speak to a human being, you may find yourself wondering if you have been cruelly cast in a science fiction / horror movie against your will. Some sort of post-apocalyptic cluster-fuck that has no end. It goes something like this:

• An agent for your existing mortgage company tells you that you must create and send a letter to the corporate office before they can release the information. When they receive the letter, it may take up to 15 business days for them to respond.

• When you do finally receive the response, it comes in the form of a threatening looking letter from the corporate headquarters. It explains in legalese, that their computer records show that you have not made your last 3 payments. Therefore, you are now in default on your loan and not only will they refuse to provide the document you need, but you will most likely lose your home. You know that you've requested your bank to pay your mortgage automatically from your checking account. So now, you must contact the bank and ask if or why those payments have not been sent.

• You call the bank and you suffer through yet another barrage of choices. Then some torturous music once used by the CIA to wear down hardened terrorists, plays endlessly. Someone from another country, speaking with an accent you can barely understand eventually answers and states their operator number and asks you for a stream of identifying information.

• The agent finally tells you that they have made all the required payments. You ask why is it that the mortgage company has no record of having received them. The agent says she has no idea. You request that they call the mortgage company to verify to them that the bank made the payments. The agent says they will not share any of your information with a 3rd party.

• You ask through clenched teeth "What is my recourse?" The agent tells you that you must download form number 0410-6918B from their website, print it, fill it out and fax it to their office in the morning. This form (if it is approved), will allow the bank to talk to your mortgage company on your behalf. But it will take another 15 days for the bank to receive the form, review and approve it and then fax back their response.

And so it goes, on and on like this until you're about ready to pull out what remains of your hair. And this is only one of the many issues we, as adults, must confront in our increasingly complicated and de-humanized world.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE?

Computerization, automation and robotization is rendering human involvement in almost every field to some extent, irrelevant. The Guardian Magazine writes that The Bank of America claims almost 1/2 the global manufacturing jobs will be automated by 2050. The Deloitte consultancy firm states that automation has already replaced some 11 million jobs in the U.K. since 2001. While this may be a boon to large business owners, able to do business more efficiently and cheaply, it provides a narrowing field of opportunities for middle class workers who once made everything possible through human energy: documenting; filing; calling; answering; making; selling; packaging; loading; driving; receiving; stocking; etc.

Now increasingly, computers do everything. And when they make a mistake, as they often do, there is no one to blame. Corporations can now deflect responsibility by claiming that the software had a glitch, that their system was hacked by rogue cyber-terrorists, that there was a power outage. Often, isolated from their customers by a firewall of gate keepers, obfuscating customer service practices and downright arrogance, corporations feel no compunction to give a reason when they fail to fulfill their responsibilities or agreements. And lobbyists ensure that government officials will look the other way, even when millions of constituents demand accountability.

HOW DOES THIS CHANGE AFFECT US?

Not even to speak to the loss of jobs that once provided employment and a sense of purpose and connectedness to millions of workers: Our computerized and mechanized world is becoming colder, less humane. More like the remotely controlled, surveillance state we once wrote off as impossible fantasy in George Orwell's book, "1984".

In the past, when you complained to another man or woman on the phone that you needed help, that person could feel the humanity in your voice. They could put themselves in your shoes and understand your anxiety and frustration. As a result, they might be more inclined to take up your cause. A computer feels nothing. It doesn't care if you live or die, if you become homeless, if you can't get medical care or that you may spend half the week on the phone chasing down an elusive document.

And we have become unwitting volunteers in the dehumanization of our own society.

Every time you or I text instead of call. Every time you or I send an email instead of a letter; every time you or I purchase something online rather than go to the store and buy it from a cashier; every time you or I bank online or go to the ATM machine instead of speaking with the teller... you and I are signifying that we prefer, that we like this new world order. That we not only accept it, but we embrace it. And I AM as guilty as anyone!

The ability to do everything from your computer, while relaxing in your pajamas is seductive. The very article you are now reading would not have been possible without this technological advantage. But as with all things new, humans over-indulge. We obsess and dive in, ignorant of the consequences. And in this case, we do so at our peril.

I have written extensively about the common sight of young people slumped over their phone, interacting with a device, rather than laughing and socializing with their friends, as they should. It raises all kinds of troubling questions: Will these individuals have deformed spines from this repetitive activity? Will they be effectively able to interact with other humans on a face to face basis in business, political and social settings? Will they develop robust language skills if they now communicate primarily in emoticons and abbreviated phrases?

How much farther can we descend down this rabbit hole? How will we learn to work together, to compromise, to resolve our differences and heal our past transgressions if we allow our lives to be contained in, controlled by and negotiated through computers?

WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

In Business - Demand accountability from those with whom you do business. It will take more work and time, but in many cases, you will prevail. When you don't get satisfaction over the phone and when it is possible, go to the company office and demand a meeting with a supervisor. Write letters and leave comments on Yelp.com or some other review site. Tell your friends, coworkers and associates about your negative experience and implore them to avoid doing business with this firm.

Though business entities continue to wall themselves off behind a screen of computers and delirious complexity, they are still beholden to customer loyalty and corporate image. Damage to their brand or a loss of faith in their integrity and reliability, especially when that message is carried by many voices, can and will hurt them where they are most vulnerable: their pocketbook.

Personally - Resist the temptation to text everything. Use the "phone" as phones were intended to be used: To actually talk to someone. Go to the store once in a while and pick out a greeting card when a friend or associate has a birthday or other life event, rather than sending an e-card or a Facebook post.

In spite of the march of technology, people will always desire human company. Force yourself to turn off your phone, find volunteer opportunities that put you in touch with people from other walks of life or who are less fortunate than yourself. Get involved in creative or physical activities that require team participation. Use your hands to make things. Remind yourself and others that there is and will always be something unique and special about handmade items. Remember that they carry some indefinable quality imbued in them by their maker. Take walks. Get out in Nature and learn about rocks, birds and flowers.

IN CONCLUSION

There is still a whole world out there beyond your computer. The rest of the human race may be running like lemmings over the technological cliff, but that doesn't mean you have to. And when you find your life, your peace of mind and your very existence being put at risk by the cold march of progress, fight back.

One day, whether by catastrophe or just society's expiring fascination with bits and bytes, the human factor will come into vogue again. Maybe, just maybe, by not allowing ourselves to be blindly swept away by the current of automation, we can rekindle an interest in those wonderful qualities of the human experience that no computer will ever be able to emulate.

Random Samples to Get You Started

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What is The Happiness Tree?

This blog and its companion
book are a direct challenge to the preconceived notions,
fears, biases and flawed approaches that hold many of us back from
success in relationships, work, creativity and most importantly, life
satisfaction.

Like many of you, from my
adolescent years, I was seeking guidance to
help me understand the complex interplay between myself and the world
at large: A sort of “Life Manual”. I would peruse book stores and act
on recommendations by friends and respected “gurus”, and never found a
book, program or methodology that connected all the dots.

I’d read one book about
Spirituality, and another about Self Esteem.
Yet another about The Creative Process followed by a treatise on
Relationships. Each book seemed to partially address one piece of the
puzzle, but not how that element fit into or coordinated with all the
others.
Then at a dark, pivotal point in my mid-life, I felt the need for just
such a paradigm shift. A complete overhaul of my belief systems and a
new scaffolding upon which to construct my future. I was sure that in
the new frontier of the internet, I’d be able to find just the right
message, delivered just the right way that would provide me that “Aha
moment” I so desperately desired. But alas, I found only bits and
pieces, not a cohesive, holistic approach to creating sustainable
happiness.

So, I built
it myself.

One of the pearls of wisdom
that stuck with me during my many years of
searching, was that ‘all the tools and information we need to create a
productive, happy life, are already inside of us’. This made sense to
me. Though not a religious person, I have always believed that we were
brought
into this life to fulfill a purpose. And if that was so, then it would
stand to reason that we’d be provided the skills necessary to manifest
that purpose or at least the means to acquire them. From that
perspective, our challenge then, from the moment we’re born, (or some
would say, even before that), is to discover our mission, then develop
the energy, passion and abilities to fulfill it.

Along the way though, most of
us get bogged down in the details. To use
a driving metaphor, we head off perhaps in the right direction and then
hit a pothole. Our vehicle becomes temporarily disabled and so we hitch
a ride and become a passenger on someone else’s journey. Through
detours and switchbacks, we may
spend years retracing our steps in an effort
to regain the momentum of those earlier times. Along the way,
circumstance or destiny places what feels like insurmountable barriers
in our path,
causing us to rethink our entire rai·son d'ê·tre.

This is usually when the pivot
happens. When our belief systems
collapse, leaving us feeling incapable of addressing even the simplest
task, for lack of confidence in our own abilities or the very
righteousness of humanity. I built The Happiness Tree for this critical
juncture in my own life and by extension, to help you through yours.

This system is named The
Happiness Tree, for a reason. By following its
intuitive structure: Roots; Trunk; Limbs and Branches, we begin to
organize the seemingly complex interplay between ourselves and others,
into a visual framework, allowing us to step back for the first time
and see the entire global connections that make up our lives. From this
vantage point, areas that are weak or unbalanced are revealed. We are
then guided toward achieving a broader and more effective
distribution of our time, energy, talents, passions and goals through
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enhancing our confidence, relationships, creativity, purpose and
ultimately, our life satisfaction and happiness.

Let "The
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you’ve always dreamed of. Just read, absorb, practice. evolve and
become the manifestation of Joy in your own life and that of those you
love.